Vans Aircraft INC RV-12IS accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, February 24, 2026
On February 24, 2026 at about 3:48 pm local time, a 2025 Vans Aircraft INC RV-12IS, registered N46TB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Appleton, Wisconsin (Appleton International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during landing and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the runway. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2026 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Appleton International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft INC RV-12IS, built 2025
- Registration
- N46TB · registry record · serial 12205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that during the landing, the wind shifted from a headwind and the airspeed dropped. He directed the pilot receiving instruction to increase engine power; however, the pilot’s response was delayed. The flight instructor attempted to correct by adding engine power, but the airplane stalled and landed hard. During the hard landing, the left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot receiving instruction was landing the airplane on runway 12 with wind from 180° at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Approach-circling (IFR) Other weather encounter
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 105 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 16, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912is Sport (piston); 60 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNU Juneau WI at 3:20 pm
- Destination: ATW Appleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,502 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 am from KATW
Weather report (METAR): ATW 241545Z 18015G22KT 10SM BKN120 M03/M09 A2964=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N46TB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA125.